Flute Bar - Lounge, Cocktail Bar, Champagne Bar Franchise
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The Inspiration
Hervé Rousseau, founding owner of Flûte, is a Paris-born New Yorker. He earned his business degree from l’Ecole Supérieure du Commerce Extérieur in Paris. In the 1990’s, he pulled up roots when he was recruited by Rémy -Cointreau to represent their Champagne brands in New York City and the Hamptons. It was in his work with Champagnes Krug, Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck that Hervé developed a passion for the extraordinary world of French Champagne.
| As Hervé also came to love New York City, he began to see an opportunity to marry the two, to bring the energy of New York nightlife together with France’s unmatched art de vivre as expressed by its bubbly. From this inspiration came the first Flûte Champagne Lounge in 1997, located in Midtown Manhattan between Times Square and Central Park. An early success, Flûte Midtown was joined by a second location in the Gramercy Park area in 2000. Both locations are still in operation today and each has earned a loyal customer base and a reputation for quality and consistency in the roughand-tumble world of New York nightlife. In 2006, Hervé returned to his roots and opened a third location in the 17th Arrondissement of Paris. |
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The concept
Flûte has come to define its own
category of upscale but accessible bar-lounge; inspired by the New
York speakeasies of the 1920’s but with a chic, modern
sensibility, Flûte provides its customers with a place to
relax, to have a drink with friends after work, dinner or a show
and late into the night. The intimate and aesthetic atmosphere
creates a V.I.P. room experience for all customers, where they can
enjoy excellent service and a little luxury. Flûte is not a
nightclub and it is not just a bar. Its emphasis is on smaller
venues, extensive banquette seating and an atmosphere that
encourages guests to stay awhile. Add to this Flûte’s
core inspiration - Champagne, which makes up the heart of the menu
- and Flûte clearly sets itself apart as a unique proposition
on the nightlife scene. It is important to note that
Flûte’s clientel is about 60% female, putting Flûte
in an enviable position vs. nightlife competitors who scramble to
appeal to this very desirable demographic.
By the glass, in tasting flights, by the bottle or in cocktails,
Champagne is the ideal accompanyment to Flûte’s original
menu of cuisine de bar: a selection of elegant and satifying warm
and cold “finger foods.” Weekend DJ’s, weekly
live jazz and a digital playlist custom designed by
Flûte’s New York DJ’s and streamed directly to the
venue provide an inviting ambiance for every night of the
week.
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The strategie
To-date, Flûte has expanded solely through wholly-owned locations. This has provided the opportunity to establish a distinctive brand, build a strong management team, and test the concept in different markets, multiple venues and within changing economic and business environments. Flûte’s performance has demonstrated a strong viability that encouraged the decision in 2009 to accellerate expansion via franchising.
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The Business
Twelve years of experience in New York translates into impressive sales and profit:
2008 Sales Before Tax Profit
Flûte Midtown $935,000 17%
Flûte Gramercy $1,400,000 17%
Franchise and Investment
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The Profile of a Franchisee
Location: 1,500SF to 2,000SF
Personal investment: $120k to $150k (78k £ to 98k £)
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